The True Story of Dragon Ball
The True Story of Dragon Ball
When Akira Toriyama created Dragon Ball, the mangaka had no idea how important this story would be. Today, the series is one of the most popular and well-known anime series of all time. With over 500 chapters and even more episodes under its belt, Dragon Ball has become the poster boy for action-packed shonen goodness.
However, some anime lovers shy away from this story. The long-running series can be intimidating to people unfamiliar with the true story of Dragon Ball , but don't worry; Dragon Ball France is here to explain to you.
We've gone ahead and broken down Dragon Ball into its component parts, separating the manga from the anime series and the story features. So if you're curious about the true history of Dragon Ball and its records, we've got the answers for you below.
Let's start at the beginning, shall we ?
Before Dragon Ball was adapted into an anime, it was a manga (paper format). The story was written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama between November 1984 and May 1995. Titled Dragon Ball, the series was published entirely by the weekly Shōnen Jump before Sheisha bound them into a tankōbon for readers.
Akira wrote the series shortly after the success of the manga Dr Slump in 1980. The comedy gave him the power to pursue Dragon Ball, and the artist jumped at the chance to publish his new story . Although Dragon Ball is known for its over the top action, the series hasn't always focused on that. At first, the manga wasn't so much about Super Saiyans as it was about myths and tricks. Loosely based on the Chinese tale Journey to the West , Dragon Ball began as a playful mix of comedy and slapstick action before later chapters delve into more intense action sequences.
dragonball
When Dragon Ball hit shelves, readers devoured the series and critics praised its intricate stories . Toei Animation therefore quickly secured the animation rights to the series and launched its anime adaptation in February 1986.
Dragon Ball covers the manga's first 159 chapters in approximately 153 episodes . The series ran for over three years, and it only ended to split Akira's story into two separate eras. The original series followed protagonist Son Goku as a child, in search of seven items that granted him his wishes, known as Dragon Balls (crystal balls). Trained in martial arts , Goku begins to travel the world to acquire these mystical items and fights with many villains along the way.
Dragon Ball Z
Soon after Dragon Ball ended, Toei Animation began work on its sequel Dragon Ball Z. The second series kicks off in the same month as the previous one and presents fans with a more serious and action-packed story than they have ever seen before.
Dragon Ball Z follows an older Goku as he and his comrades known as the Z Fighters defend the planet against evil, super-powered villains who seek to destroy it. The series also introduces a second generation of characters to fans. For example, Goku now has his own children called Gohan and Goten whom he trains.
When it comes to popularity, Dragon Ball Z reigns supreme in the fandom . It was this show that caught the attention of overseas audiences and ushered in a new era for anime lovers .
Dragon Ball GT
If you're talking about Dragon Ball GT with fans, you might want to speak lightly. Opinions on his show are varied to say the least since its canonicity has been questioned since its inception in 1996 .
Dragon Ball GT is a sequel to the Dragon Ball Z series. The series is set five years after the latter ended and sees Goku become a child again . The hero then travels across the universe to find the Black Star Dragon Balls that killed him, and they also encounter an adversary who is determined to end the Saiyan race during their travels.
Most fans tend to disapprove of Dragon Ball GT . Unlike its contemporaries, this anime is not based on a manga created by Akira; instead, it tells an original story designed by Toei Animation . As such, die-hard Dragon Ball fans argue that the series is not considered canon for the overall franchise, though Akira referred to Dragon Ball GT as a " side story " from the original anime.
Dragon Ball Kai
After the dismal reception of Dragon Ball GT, Toei Animation refrained from launching any new series . However, they went ahead and re-released Dragon Ball Z under the new name Dragon Ball Kai.
Toei Animation created the remake in honor of the franchise's 20th anniversary . And, of course, the redesign would hopefully make fans forget about the bad taste Dragon Ball GT left in their hearts. The studio took the original Dragon Ball Z series and digitally traced the animations to give the series a more contemporary feel . Dragon Ball Kai also removed sequel content that was not from Akira's manga. Dragon Ball Kai eventually went from 291 to 167, and fans were pleased to see that much of that content was removed.
Dragon Ball Super
After Dragon Ball Kai ended, fans were left in a perpetual void . No one knew if Toei Animation would produce another series after Dragon Ball GT's failure to impress audiences. But, after 18 years of waiting, the company has finally managed to release a much better series titled Dragon Ball Super .
Dragon Ball Super is the sequel to Dragon Ball Z and takes place after Goku 's planet is at peace. The hero and his friends are almost back to their normal way of life when another intergalactic threat hits their atmosphere. The so-called God of Destruction is eager to take on Goku after hearing about the hero's strength , and the villain is willing to end the universe to do so.
Although the anime is not based on any manga by Akira , he is the one who created the series. The artist also provided Toei Animation with character designs that served as his inspiration, and fans were grateful for Akira's return . Since the series debut, over 60 episodes have aired, and Dragon Ball Super began simulcasting in the US this month for fans to watch the ongoing series .
Film spin-offs
When an anime becomes popular , the series is expected to produce a movie or two to satisfy the fans. So, considering the popularity of Dragon Ball, it's no surprise to learn that the franchise has spawned 19 movies .
The first Dragon Ball movie was released in December 1986 , when The Legend of Shenlong was shown in Japanese theaters . The most recent film, Resurrection of F, premiered last year. These films are often bundled with several feature-length television specials that the franchise has produced. For example, a one-hour crossover special between Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Toriko aired in 2013 to the delight of anime fans around the world .
Video game adaptations
If you thought the number of Dragon Ball movies was huge, wait until you know how many video games belong to the franchise. Since 1986, dozens of console games and arcade titles have been released, featuring Goku and his team of Z Fighters. Today, more than 80 video games are part of the franchise.
For decades, many Dragon Ball video games were kept overseas in Japan for licensing reasons. The first game was released in September 1986 for the Super Cassette Vision , as this was before the days of consoles like the PlayStation . The most recent game, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 , has just made its North American debut for current-gen consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One . And, so far, the game's reviews are favorable .
Dragon Ball Streetwear
The craze for the story of Dragon Ball and all these manga characters has gone beyond the world of cinema and video games because nowadays fans of this cult series want to show their belonging and their love for these endearing heroes by wearing them. on them and their clothes every day!
The Dragon Ball France company has produced several streetwear items bearing the image of the Dragon Ball brand by manufacturingt-shirts ,sweatshirts ,caps ,pants and goodies for the happiness of fans
Discover our collection of Dragon Ball clothing by clicking on the image below :
